Flexible hose coupling



April 24, 1951 J. H. MILLAR 2,550,583

FLEXIBLE HOSE COUPLING Filed June 28, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 imi. E.

` lNvENToR ff 75 ffl 0 Jol-IN HMILLAR BY E 6% 5% ATTO NEY5 J. H. MILLAR v 2,550,583

FLEXIBLE HosE COUPLING April 24, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1947 lNvl-:NToR JOHN H.MILLAR l UlNlTEn STATI;

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 FLEXIBLE HosE ooUrLING John H. Millar, Lime Compton; n. I. `Application June 28, 1947, Serial No. 757,769

(cl. 28s-s4) f 2 Claims.

'Ihis invention is a flexible hose coupling particularly adapted for use on high and very high p pressure hose.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved flexible hoseccoupling construction capable of withstanding the bursting pressure on high and very high pressure hose.

. A' further object of the invention is to provide a structure of Vthis kind in which the coupling structure does not obstruct the bore of the hose Wherefore a.fulllow hose is provided.

A still further object ofthisV invention is to provide a novel construction for attaching the coupling xtures of a flexible hose to the hose in such manner as to prevent the coupling 'fixture from. blowing off the end of the hose at any pressure within the bursting range o-f the hose, even at high temperatures.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of assembling the coupling on a vhose to attain the various objects recited above. f

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof` illustrated in the attached drawflexible hose of the type for which the coupling of this invention was devised; Y

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the rst step in the process of assembling the coupling onthe hose;

'Figure 3 is a cross sectional view partly in elevation of the endv load carrier mounted on the end of a mandril ready for insertion in the strucy ture of Figure 2; j Figure 4 is a vertical, central, longitudinal, cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 2A showing further steps in the assembly process j and particularly the end load vcarrier in place;

Figure 5 is a vertical, central, longitudinal, cross sectional view of the coupling ferrule;

- Figure 6 is aview similar to that of Figure 4 further along in the process showing the coupling ferrule appliedover the end .of the hose;

i Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the next step in the process wherein the outer end of the ferrule has been compressed radially to gripthe reinforcing braid of the hose;

between it and theend load carrier;

Figure 8 shows the next`step of the process in which the spigot or insert has been'positioned in the hose witha coupling xture'or union member attached andan expanding mandril properly positioned; and l AFigure 9 is afvertical, central, longitudinal,

cross sectional view through the finished structure after the spigot or insert has been expanded. The test requirements for high and very' high ,pressure reinforced ieXible hose are very rigid.

By high and very high pressure hose is meant hose that is capable ofwithstanding pressuresV Vthe hose is exposed to a ame of such tempera'- ture. The structure herein disclosed'isV capable of successfully passing tests of this nature.

High pressure hosecouplings in general use have aabore restrictionat the coupling substantially equal to the thickness ofthe spigot or insert. This is a very undesirable defect-which has not heretoforeV been successfully avoidedrinhigh pressure hose couplings of this type. It "is'u'nnecessary to delineate the many disadvantagesnof restricting the bore of such hose as these are wellfunderstood by those skilled in. this'art.

A major point of weakness in high' pressure hose couplings of this type is the tendency ofthe coupling to blow off the end of the hose before the hose bursts. The structure herein disclosed has been devised successfully to withstand the end thrust4 load which tends4 to cause 'the' coupling to blow off the end of the hose; vAs will appear in more detail later, the coupling elements are assembledso as to elTect a locking` action beftween them and the reinforcing braiding of the hose. Y Y

A very important object of thisinvention is to provide a novelmethod of assembly of the parts comprising the invention to facilitate ease of assembly and uniformity of the resulting product by a procedure which is economical and adapted Y to rapid accomplishment.

An excellentunderstanding of the invention in relation to all of the ,objects thereof will be pro'f' vided by describing the procedure for assembling! a dethe parts, interspersing where necessary scription of the structural parts.

The invention is most effectively applicable 1toexible hose of the type comprising a carcassV composed of inner andouter 'sleeves of-,rubberv havingA interposed` between .them one onmore; layers composed ofV a woven wire reinforcement,

of high tensile strength steel wire. At this point it may be noted as will be understood, that the subject matter of this invention is also applicable to lower pressure hose in which case the carcass is sometimes reinforced with a similar reinforcement of cotton or rayon braid and the like. It is hardly necessary to note that the inner and outer tubes are made either of natural rubber, synthetic rubber or mixtures thereof as .well las other plastic materials and that the novel structure herein disclosed is not. limited by the nature of the flexible material comprising the inner and outer tubes of the hose.

'Such a hose is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1 and comprises a carcass composed of' the outer flexible tube I, the inner flexible tube 3 and the exible woven steel reinforcing lbraid 2. These parts are commonly assembled under-.heat and pressure so as to4A *form a unitary structure. As illustrated in Figure 1, the terminal end of suena hose to whicha coupling is to be applied f. squared off. The inner tube 3 is then removed in anysuitable manner for a sufficient distance inwardly from the squared end of the hose rEhe end of the inner tube 3 resulting from this operatQIi. maybe beveled as shown at 4.

'The end, load carrier 5, see Figure 3, consists of a sleeveof suitable. metal depending upon the operating conditions to be encountered such as, for example, steel, brass, aluminum alloy or PlQSphor bronze. The end load carrier is cylindrical in its outer. conformation and is provided with a squared outer end and a beveled end S. The outer cylindrical surface is k'nurledorrotherwise roughened Yas indicated. at 5". Near the beveled end of the end. load carrier is an internal Vradialprojection 'I forming an annulus,y As illustratved in Figure 3, the end load carrieris slipped, from its squaredend, onto the end of a polished and hardenedmandril M' so that the shoulder of the mandril M abuts against the adjacent periph: erfygof. the annulus- 1. The. inner cylindrical surfaceV ofi-the exposed' reinforcement 2- is soldered als indicated at 8gso as to holdf the loose ends of the strands lcomprising the braid in voriginal position. The end load carrier is then inserted in the @nd of the hose. by means of the mandril Mgso; that its beveled edge-5 seats on the beveled end of the innerlining 34 as illustrated in Figure l. "13.1% Outer covering I is thenremoved and the outer surface, ofthe reinforcementy is soldered kas in iated' at 9 to. further aidY in holding the braid str nds in place. Those sinned. in the art will readilyunderstand' that, in the case of asteel wire reinforcement, the wire formingY thebraid is. extremely springy and:y the cut ends will tend to., spring `ori fan out' whenthe tubes I and 2 are rQmQlled; and. for. this reason soldering is desirable. 'Ifhe tubes. I. and Z-'are out off alittle further back than is required so that the soldered end; of thereinforcement 2- canbe-cutv offVV at the properV time, It is also preferable to proyide the solden that a. point` within theA endofvthe endload carrier4 5 andthe solder 3. at a point outside of it sor, that ,when the excess braid is cutaway the end load carrier will prevent the braid, ends from springinginwardly andthe solder Qwill-prevent them from springing outwardly; All; of"y thesey f eaturesare illustrated -in-.Figure 4. Y

At this pointanl alternative methodof, procedure will be explained. In thisA casethe outer tubeV Ii isrst stripped ofrather thanV theinnell tube. A split ring isgthenplacedover theendl of-.-the bared-wire braidreinforcement;` to .prevent itffrom springingoutwardly. Thisspl'ituringi isleitt on the braid and the outer ferrule is modified to receive it in a manner to be explained later. The inner tube 3 is then cut away as in the first method and the end load carrier 5 is then slipped into place so that the structure will be like that of Figure 4 except that the split ring will surround the plate in the region of the solder 9. In this case the tubes I and 3 need only be cut back so that only the required amount of braid is ex- PQed and ,nosolderingis required. In either method, when the operations up to this point are complete, the reinforcement 2 will terminate at the squared or outer end of the end load carrier 5.

rThe outer ferrule Ill is shown in Figure 5. This -ferrulecan be made oi any suitable material such as brass, aluminum alloy, low carbon steel; or APhosphor bronze. It is circular in form and at ene end is provided with an internal radial flange I5 having a central opening and at theother end with a flare Yiiv which joins the main bodyr of the ferrule so as to provide an annular groove I5. The free edge of the flare is rounded as shown at Il and it will be seen that the Aflared portion converges to the interna-1 diameter of the ferrule. The main body of the ferrule is provided with an external peripheral groove Iii. The inside of the ferrule is provided with an annular recess or grooveon the interior in aboutthe plane of the groove M. ToV the right of the recess i8 the internal boreof the ferrule is of somewhat reduced diameter andV the annular surface thereof is provided with a series of at-toppedteeth I2. Tothe other side of the recess. 8, the annular inner surface-ofsomewhat Veiilaiicd diameter is providedfwith teeth I3. The

teeth, 5,2 and i3 are in the form of annular ridges. As shown in Figure 6, the ferrule Il). is now slipped over the end of the structure of VIf'lllfc 4 (the waste end of the braid 2 having `been removed) so'that the parts appear as illustrated in Figure 6.

The flared end. l. i. oiV the fer-rule aids in slipping itlv over the.- end of the hose. The ferrule is applied as. illustrated. inFigure- 6 until*l the end of the braid and theinserted end loadfear-rier 5 abut against the innerface of the-nange I5. The structure is then placed in suitable shaped radially movable dies to provide a'radial pressure in all directions.. toA the. exterior of the; ferrule 5 on that portion thereof to the-right ofgroovez I 4. The diameter of, the ferrule, is then reduced" by the application osufcient pressurefthrough the disso, thatthe teeth t2 are forced. down into intimate contact with the exterior of the rei-niorcing braid, 2. and in turn this braid is forced down into intimatel contact. with` the knurled outer surface of the end load carrier 5^. The. pressure. exerted is sufficient to` contract the ferrule to such. an extent that. it isl positively distQlted andl takes a. permaident` set; As. a result the wire braid is powerfully attached to the end` load carrier 5 asitisgripped betweenit and the teeth, t2. 01";` the ferrulel AThis.condition is dia- ,lailimatically, illustrated in Figure 7.-. For alla intents and purposes thefend. load-carrier isper-A manently. united as. though in one piece and interloclgedI with thebraid. Bur-ing this deforming operation the. mandril end remains withinl the endload carrie1f-5.so,asv to back it upy andv prevent" its deformation. lt. importa-nt: to nete that.` during the operation of attachingy theeend; load carrierufer-rule vand braid together that portion ofthe erruletatheleftof groove lad hasfnot been disturbed.. rllhe .mandril- M isnow; withdrawn.`

The spigot or. insert.- Itis nowslipped into the;

Y shown in the drawings.

Y ure 8.

swivel or union nut 20 so that its shouldered end 2I rests on the flange of the nut as shown in Figure 8. The end 2I of the insert is formed with a seating surface to form a coupling member for cooperation with a mating `part to forma seal when the nut 9 is drawn up tight, all as is well vunderstood-in the art. This seating form can take various forms other than the specific form An expanding mandril EM is then inserted so that its tapered portion T lies inthe mouth of the smaller end- 22 of the insert. The outer surface of the smaller end of the insert is provided exteriorly with an annular groove 24rpositioned to be axially aligned with the annular ring 'I on` the inner surface of the end load carrier 5 when the parts are assembled, all as clearly shown in Figure 8.

'The larger diameter of the mandril EM is slightly larger' than the nominal inside diameter of the hose, for example, about 0.005 of an inch larger, and the inside diameter of the larger end, in the region 25, of the insert I9 is about 0.0019 to` 0.00712 of an inch larger than the nominal inside diameter of the hose. A distance piece 25 in the form of a thin split ring is passed over the insertl I!!l so that'it will lie between the adjacent ends-of the ferrule Ill and the nut 25 when these parts are assembled in the relation shown in Fig- This distance piece will serve the important function of aligning the groove 24 with the ridge 2'I as well as an additional function to be referred to later. These parts, that is the nut 20, the ring 26, the insert I9 and the mandril EM are then pushed into the hose in the position shown in Figure 8 with the small rod-like exe tension projecting exteriorly of the structure, as shown. At this time, the nut is abutting the ring 26 which in turn contacts the end face of the ferrule I and the insert I9 is seated at its shouldered end 2l on the inner face of the flange of the nut 20. This structure is then placed in a suitable xture in which the end 2i of the insert rests on a rigid fixed seat.

The small end of the expanding mandril EM is gripped by a suitable pulling mechanism so that the mandril can be pulled through the insert IS, that is, from left to right in Figure 8. As the tapered portion T` of the mandril engages the small end 22 of the insert it will be seen that if a suflicient pulling force is applied that the insert I will be expanded to the full diameter of the lefthand end of the expanding mandril EM as it is pulled through the insert. In one suitable form of mechanism this relative movement bef tween the hose and coupling structure and the mandril is effected by applying a force to the end 2I of the insert I9 which lcauses the hose and coupling to move to the left. In other words, it is preferred to grip the small end of the mandril in a suitable vice and hold it stationary. As the insert I9 is expanded by the mandril, it will be seen that the internal radial projection form- -ing an internal annulus on the end-load carrier 5, will be interlocked with the peripheral annular groove 2li of the insert I9, as the insert assumes the full diameter, as clearly shown in Figure 9. As the insert is expanded the rubber or other material of the inner layer 3 of the hose is caused to flow into the space 2l, see Figure 8, so that a seal'is formed with the tapered end of the end load carrier 5, see Figure 9. At the same time, the teeth 23 of the insert are buried in the inner layer 3 andthe internal diameter ofthe insert I of course becomes the same as the internal diam- 1 eter4 of the hose. Thus, there is substantially no 6i" projection at the endr 2| of the insert, one of the objects of this invention.4 g

As the hose and coupling are moved to the left in this mechanism and at the proper time the portion of vtheferrule I0 to the left of the groove I4 first enters the mouth of a split reducing die which causes that end of the ferrule to be contracted down upon the outer portion I of the` hose, forcing the teeth I3 thereof to be buried therein and causing the end of the covering I to flow somewhat in-to the space 28 of the ferrule. At this time the full diameter portion of the expanding mandril EM can be of such length as to back up the insert I9 so as to prevent it from being distorted. This may not be necessary since thisouter portion ofthe ferrule is only given a light swage to force it into position. This swaging operation is favored by the annular groove IlI` which to some extent divides the body of the ferrule into two separate portions which can thus rule It and the sleeve or end load carrier 5.

These three parts are all properly relatively positioned by reason of the fact that the flange I5 of the ferrule abuts against the end of the layer 2 of the end load carrier 5. The insert I9 is axiallylocked to the end load carrier 5 and a fluid tight seal has been eifected at the beveled edge 6 of the end load carrier. The outer layer I is gripped in the teeth I3 of the ferrule and has flowed into space 28 and the inner layer I5 is gripped in the teeth 23of the insert I9. The nut 20 is free on the insert so that it can be used for its intended coupling purposes. At this point it may be noted that in some forms of structure in which this invention may be used nut 20 may be omitted and the end 2I of the insert may have the form shown or some other suitable configuration.

As a minor variation, it should be noted that it is not necessary to use a ferrule having a ange I5. In some cases, in order to shorten the coupling and reduce weight, the flanged end can be omitted, in which case the parts may be relatively positioned prior to attachment by suitably shaping the end load carrier mandril.

By reason 'of the metallic union of the metal reinforcing braiding with the end load carrier, electrical bonding is achieved between the two, which electrical bonding is automatically transferred also to the spigot or insert which is interlocked with the end load carrier as hereinbefore described. v

'Another advantage of the `combinationl comprising this invention results by rst'attaching the metal Ireinforcing braiding to the end-load carrier. The flow of the hose material itself when the body and rear part ofthe ferrule are later contracted upon it must take place relative to the eliminated.

The flared end I6 of the ferrule provides a relief for the outer wall of the hose and permits it to flex freely with respect to the coupling structure. The annular groove I I serves to strengthen fthe skirt portion of the ferrule and prevents its 7 from open-ingout under abnormal pressures such as would occur if the couplingV were subjected to' gre'at'v heat While Linder pressure. The rounded e'n'd edge of the skirt insures' against cutting or' daiiaglifg the4 outer layer? l of the hose when it s flexed'.

In-Y the alternative procedure at the start of the process, it Was" suggested that a split ring might encirclev the exposed braid at the end to prevent it from opening up. This ring after it is applied may' remain as applied since it Will be employed at a point Wherelit'willlie in an annular rece'ss whichwould be formed at the flanged end of the ferrule" provided for the purpose of ac'- cbminodatirig it. This ringv Will thus be incorporated in the nished structure.

From theabove' description it will be apparent to those skilled in thisart that the structural details and sequence of steps are capable of some variation Without departure from' the scope of novel subject matte'r'herein disclosed. I do not therefore desire to be' strictly limitedto the i1lustrated disclosure herein set out but only as required' by theV claims granted me.

What is claimedli's:

l. The combination with a flexible rubber hose having at least one metallic reinforcing layer bared onbothsidesat the'end, of a coupling comprising a spigot Withinf the' hose end portion,

REFERENCES vCITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,969,203 Cadden et a1 Aug. '7, 1934 2,025,427 Weatherhead, Jr. Dec. 24, 1935` 2,228,018 Scholtes Jan. '7, 1941 2,248,576 McConnohie July 8, 1941 2,321,991 Butler June 15, 1943 2,333,349 Weatherhead, Jr., et al. Nov. 2, 19434 2,374,226 Melsom Apr. 24, 1945 2,399,790 Conroy May '7, 1946 

